The Keegan era saw the best football and some of the best goals ever scored at St James. But like a few others on here, it's often those that hark back to your youth which stick in your mind. My own was from Tommy Craig. It was a humdinger from way outside the box firing in to the Gallogate End. It was the full bullet, mighty strike, leaving the ground, ball rocketing through every player and bulging the net. Really though, it was the look of absolute delight on Tommy's face as he wheeled round to celebrate the goal.
Now, which match? I had to hunt about for facts but it's October 1976 and I think it was against Birmingham (3-2). Probably one of my favourite seasons. Very eventful. Supermac was gone out of the scene and we had Alan Gowling, plodding forever at No.9. Gordon Lee both inspired then deserted the club at a critical point. League Cup finalists but lost to Man City. Overall, we finished 5th.
There's been wonderful ups and downs since, many remembered above, but the romance of youth has Tommy's effort, no doubt tinged with rose-coloured memory goggles, as my stand out goal.